Friends of domestic assault victim plan Saturday fundraiser

Money to help with medical and legal costs and to support victim and her children

Oct. 29, 2013

Written by

Free Press Staff Writer

Two area group fitness businesses have organized a dance-party and silent auction Saturday to raise money for a Burlington woman who was the subject of a brutal attack in her Blodgett Street home on Sept. 22.

The event, which begins at 7 p.m. at the Sheraton-Burlington Inn and Conference Center in South Burlington is hoping the raise $5,000 for fund to help pay medical and legal costs for the woman and to support her two young children.

The victim, who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being hit in the head with a baseball bat, was in critical condition for days after the attack. She is now in fair condition but remains hospitalized at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington.

The woman also endured a sexual assault during the attack. The Burlington Free Press does not publish the names of alleged victims of sexual crimes without their consent.

“She’s doing great compared to the initial expectations,” the family said in a statement Saturday contained on a website raising funds for the victim and her two young children. “She’s doing great for someone whom has been through what she has been through ... We truly believe that she has the will and will continue to defy the odds and push the boundaries.”

Saturday’s event has already generated $2,500 in ticket sales, according to Pamela Fontaine, owner of the Jazzercize Colchester Fitness Center, who organized the event along with Courtney Wagner of Zumba.

“If we get 300 people to come I’ll be happy,” Fontaine said. “If we get more, I’ll be ecstatic.” Tickets cost $20 and can be purchased at the door or in advance at Fontaine’s business or at any of the four Danform shoe outlets in the Burlington area.

Fontaine said people are welcome to dance or just watch the dancers and bid on silent auction items.

“We have had an overabundance of stuff coming in for the silent auction,” Fontaine said.

Fontaine said the event will also feature remarks from a representative of Women Helping Battered Women and the singing of a song dedicated to the victim of the attack.

The money raised will be turned over to the fund created by the victim’s family members. As of Monday afternoon, the fund had raised $72,588.

The alleged attacker, James Scarola, 40, was ordered held without bail following his arraignment on attempted murder and aggravated domestic assault charges. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and a status hearing in his case has been scheduled for Nov. 7.

The event will be held Saturday. An earlier version of the story incorrectly listed the day.